Partnerships for Reform through Investigative Science and Math
OCEAN
EXPLORATION
Concepts
The biggest animal on
Earth can survive by
eating the smallest
animal alive. How is
this possible?
HCPS III Benchmarks
SC 6.1.1
SC 6.1.2
MA 6.1.1
Duration
1 hour
Source Material
Marine Mammal Center
PRISM
Vocabulary
Baleen
Baleen whale
Blow hole
Dorsal fin
Fluke
Humpback whale
Krill
Marine mammal
Pectoral fin
Plankton
Toothed whale
How big is a humpback whale?
Summary
In this lesson students will predict the size of a whale and other ocean
animals, then they will measure the actual size of a humpback whale
outside. The students will predict how many students they think can
fit inside a whale and then test their prediction. This is the first of
four whale lessons which will take four classes to complete.
Objectives
•
•
Students will be able to calculate the actual size of whales and
other open ocean animals
Students will be able to identify the major features of a
humpback whale
Materials
100 foot rope
Side walk chalk
Diagram of Humpback whale
Whale Research Notebook
Measuring tape (100 feet long)
Plankton sample (if available)
Picture of plankton
Making Connections
This lesson will be the first of the whale activities, students will
record data in the whale research notebook which includes all the
lessons and activities about whales.
Teacher Prep for Activity
1. Find an area outside (sidewalk, playground, safe and empty
parking lot) where the students can measure out at least 50 feet and
can draw with sidewalk chalk.
2. Print one Whale Research Notebook for each student
Background
Baleen whales are some of the largest animals on this planet, but they
eat one of the smallest animals- krill! Krill is a small crustacean like a
shrimp, they can also be called plankton. How does a humpback
whale get so big? Baleen whales have no teeth, they use baleen to
filter krill/plankton from the water, a humpback is an example of a
baleen whale found in Hawaii during the winter months. Baleen is
not bone, it is make of keratin, the same material that hair, horns and
nails are made of. The other type of whales are toothed whales that
include sperm whales, beaked whales and dolphins, they are active
hunters and feed on fish and squid.
How big is a humpback whale?
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Partnerships for Reform through Investigative Science and Math
Table of lengths
Common Name
Human
Humpback whale
Blue whale
Spinner dolphin
Krill/Plankton
School bus
Humpback whale calf
OTHER MISC. BODY
PARTS
Baleen
Pectoral fin
Dorsal fin
Blow hole
Heart
Lungs
Layer of blubber
Fluke
Scientific Name
Homo sapian
Megaptera novaeangliae
Balaenoptera musculus
Stenella longirostris
various
330 plates
Have two side by side
Length in feet (meters)
Have kids measure a student
in class (or get average for the
class)
50 ft (15.24m)
100 ft (30.48m)
7 ft (2.13 m)
0.1mm
40 ft
15 ft
SIZE/ LENGTH OF BODY
PART
2 ft long
1/3 body length
Set back 2/3 of the body
20 inches long (each)
400 pounds
Size of a compact car
20 inches thick
12 ft wide
Vocabulary
Baleen: mouth parts of baleen whale used to filter krill and plankton from the water
Baleen whale: one of the two major groups of cetaceans, characterized by whales having baleen
instead of teeth
Blow hole: the hole on the top of a cetaceans head through which the animal breathes air
Dorsal fin: the fin located on the back of the cetacean (also called dorsal fin in fish)
Fluke: a whales tail
Humpback whale: one of the largest baleen whales, a species that spends the winter months in
Hawaii and summer months in Alaska
Krill: a shrimp like animal that is a major food source for baleen whales
Marine mammal: a diverse group of 120 species of mammals that live in the ocean or depend
on the ocean for food
Pectoral fin: the paired fins found on either side of the body of aquatic animals such as whales,
and fish
How big is a humpback whale?
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Partnerships for Reform through Investigative Science and Math
Plankton: drifting organisms found in the pelagic zone of the ocean (includes krill, algae, etc)
Picture attached.
Toothed whale: one of the two major groups of cetaceans, characterized by whales that have
teeth
Procedure
1. Ask students how big they think a humpback whale is. Record predictions on the board and
ask why they guessed that size.
2. Let them guess and then tell them that they are about 50 feet.
3. Have them form a hypothesis based on the question: how many students would it take to be as
long as a humpback?
4. Write the predictions on the board.
5. Have them write their predictions in their Whale Research Notebook
6. Show them the picture of the humpback and point out the major body parts on the overhead or
ELMO (using the diagram below) this diagram is also in their whale research notebook so they
can follow along.
7. Discuss the lengths of the major body parts on the humpback and have them calculate where
to draw the fins depending on how long they draw the whale (the whale should be at least 50
feet)
8. Next have the students go outside and use the measuring tape to measure 50 feet, they will
mark both ends with sidewalk chalk.
9. Have them draw one end as the head and the other as the fluke
10. Next have them stand with their arms stretched out touching fingertip to fingertip to measure
how many students can fit inside the whale (lengthwise). *This is a good alternative to lying
down on the ground. Hint: be sure each student gets to stand inside at least once so everyone
gets the opportunity to participate
11. Record how many students it takes to be as long as a humpback whale. Make sure each
student has s chance to participate (this could be done multiple times and averaged)
12. Lastly have the students use the sidewalk chalk to complete the drawing of the whale, have
them identify the anatomy, add the fins and other body parts to scale. For the directions on
drawing to scale be sure to refer to the table in the background.
Assessments
Completed the first page in Whale Research Notebook
Resources
Marine Mammal Center http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/
Extension Activities
Students could research other marine mammal species and compare the sizes to humpbacks.
Bring in a sample of plankton/krill for the students to look at and measure if possible (with a
microscope).
How big is a humpback whale?
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Partnerships for Reform through Investigative Science and Math
Humpback Whale Diagram
Krill
How big is a humpback whale?
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